adopted son; foster son
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
adopted son; foster son
literaryA literary allusion originating from the Book of Poetry (Shijing), where the term originally referred to a green caterpillar (the host of a parasitic wasp). Ancient people mistakenly believed the wasp was raising the caterpillar as its own child, hence the metaphorical use for an adopted son. Used in formal or classical contexts.
Tā他
wú无
zǐ子
sì嗣
，
suì遂
shōu收
hǎo好
yǒu友
zhī之
zǐ子
wéi为
míng螟
líng蛉
。
He had no children, so he took his friend's son as his adopted son.
Míng螟
líng蛉
zhī之
zǐ子
yì亦
yǒu有
jì继
chéng承
quán权
。
Adopted sons also have rights of inheritance.
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Gǔ古
yǔ语
yǒu有
yún云
：
“
Míng螟
líng蛉
yǒu有
zǐ子
，
guǒ蜾
luǒ蠃
fù负
zhī之
”
，
zhè这
biàn便
shì是
míng螟
líng蛉
yī一
cí词
de的
lái来
lì历
。
As the ancient saying goes, 'The mingling has children, the guoluo carries them'—this is the origin of the term 'mingling'.